Q. | What is the Teacher Center? |
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The Southern Regional Education Board's SREB-State Teacher Center is designed as a "one-stop shop" of online resources to help you find information relevant to the teaching profession and to aid you in meeting the continuing education requirements of your state or district.
The Teacher Center is a portal or gateway to information you need to become an educator, to obtain or retain certification, to find a course or program, or to find a job. The Teacher Center is designed to provide information you need and is arranged around our states (and partners), each state having its own requirements for teachers. In addition, it builds on SREB's Electronic Campus and Regional Mentor™ System, providing you with resources and services, including courses and programs, delivered electronically.
If you are a teacher, administrator, or educational professional, we understand that the demands of your job are difficult. Students, parents, school districts, and states are all expecting more from you each day. To be an effective educator you must keep your skills and knowledge current, but taking courses or pursuing a degree can be expensive and inconvenient, especially if you do not live near a campus. Finding the time to balance work, family, and professional development is a real challenge.
E-learning through the Electronic Campus
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Q. | What is unique about the Teacher Center? |
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There are any number of online sites offering a variety of information and resources for teachers or prospective teachers. The SREB-State Teacher Center builds on 55 years of connections with and among the 16 SREB member states. The Teacher Center has been designed to provide direct and immediate access to state educational agencies, our partners in this endeavor, and to focus on services states provide. The state services are then "networked" into the regional site, providing you with the opportunity (and power) to access resources shared by all participating states.
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Q. | What is State certification/licensure? |
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Anyone wanting to become a teacher must meet state requirements, a process called certification or licensure. The process for earning your teaching certificate or license and keeping it current is often complex. The Teacher Center provides you, in an easy-to-use format, with details on the types and levels of licensure and certification in each SREB state. You will also find step-by-step assistance for becoming certified/licensed as well as descriptions of the different routes to becoming a teacher and information on inter-state reciprocity agreements.
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Q. | What is a parapro? |
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"Para" means to work alongside or to work as an assistant. A paraprofessional, or parapro, is a trained worker who is not a full member of a given profession but who assists a professional. The definition of an educational parapro and the duties of these school employees vary by state and school district. Education paraprofessionals may work as media center aides, computer lab assistants, or interpreters for students with limited English skills, but the majority work as teacher assistants (also called instructional aides, teacher aides, or educational aides), providing instructional support services under the supervision of a teacher. The Teacher Center has information on becoming a parapro and how to find employment.
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Q. | How do I become a Teacher? |
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The traditional path is by graduating with an education-related bachelor's degree from an approved teacher preparation program at a college or university. Teachers new to the profession who complete an approved teacher preparation program through an accredited college or university are recommended for state certification by an authorized college official. Alternative routes to certification allow individuals who have bachelor's degrees in areas other than education to obtain professional teaching certificates.
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Q. | What if I already have a degree in a field outside of education? Can I still become a teacher? |
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Most states in the South now have alternative paths (sometimes called lateral entry) for individuals who hold a baccalaureate (or higher) degree in areas other than education to become fully licensed teachers. The Teacher Center provides information on alternative preparation programs that will help you pursue a career in teaching. There is also information about programs designed for military personnel wanting to transition into teaching. Information about the "Troops to Teachers" programs available in SREB States is available at the Teacher Center.
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Q. | Do you have information about the No Child Left Behind Act and Highly Qualified Teacher? |
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The Teacher Center provides information about how the No Child Left Behind Act pertains to you as a current or future teacher. You can review the "highly qualified" requirements in each SREB state, including an overview of each of the states' options for demonstrating content area competency (such as HOUSSE).
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Q. | Where can I find out about teaching opportunities? |
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The Teacher Center provides information on careers in education and links you to state-sponsored job search websites in the SREB states. There is also information to help those who are interested in changing jobs and locations - for example, information about other states' licensure/certification requirements.
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Q. | Can you help me with professional development opportunities? |
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The Teacher Center provides links to college-credit and non-credit continuing education courses from colleges and universities and other approved providers to help you meet highly qualified state licensure/certification requirements, learn new skills, or simply "brush up" in certain areas, all in an online format.
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Q. | Is financial assistance available for adults wanting to be teachers? |
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The Teacher Center includes information on federal and state tax credits, grant and loan programs, as well as special incentives for employed teachers to meet new state standards. With the tools available at the Teacher Center, you can locate financial aid from your home state. In some cases, you will even apply for aid online. You can also find many out-of-state institutions that offer courses and programs at a single rate, called the "electronic tuition rate," which increases the number of affordable options that are available to you.
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Q. | What is the Electronic Campus? |
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The Electronic Campus is gaining a reputation as the nation's most successful marketplace of distance learning courses, programs and services. With hundreds of colleges and universities offering thousands of accredited courses and nearly 425 degree programs, the Electronic Campus is the place to start for distance learning. Courses and programs are offered in a variety of disciplines and at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Among the fields represented are business, education, computer science, and nursing.
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Q. | Is online learning right for me? |
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Are you ready for e-learning? Is your learning style compatible with what is needed to be a successful e-learner? We have a short assessment activity to help you decide as well as a set of tools, tips, and information to help prepare you for a successful e-learning experience. Take the personalized assessment or follow any of the links below to learn more about becoming a successful e-learner.
There is a growing body of research pointing to the personal characteristics that help to ensure you will have a successful and enjoyable e-learning experience. These findings are summarized below. The assessment tool that follows will address many of these points and provide you with more a detailed assessment.
- Work Independently - e-learning requires that you study independently, although you won't work in isolation.
- Self-Motivated - as with any learning experience, students who have a drive to learn and achieve will be successful.
- Reading and Writing Skills - these may be even more important than in the traditional classroom; these skills are necessary for you to communicate and engage in online discourse.
- Time Management - you must, as an e-learner, effectively manage your time for classroom activities and interaction, reading and responding to "posts" (communications from other students), writing, etc.
- Time Commitment - prior to beginning an e-learning course, be sure you have committed the necessary time; while convenient, e-learning does require a real commitment.
- Preparation - like any other course or learning activity, you need to be prepared, have met all course prerequisites, know the objectives of the course, and have a learning plan.
- Comfortable with Technology - while you don't need to be a computer wiz, you do need to have a level of comfort working with a computer, which is a central tool in online learning.
- Appropriate Technology - while technology needs vary and are determined by the providing colleges and universities, a basic technology "system" is a must.
We have assembled a set of assessment tools utilizing the University System of Georgia's Student Online Readiness Tool (SORT) to help you determine your readiness for e-learning.
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Q. | What is SREB? |
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The Southern Regional Education Board is the nation's oldest compact for education. Its programs are designed to improve K-12 education and higher education in its 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
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